his gillie. Ring, and send Grant."

The bell was touched: the butler entered directly.

"The young gentleman is not down yet, sir."

"Well, I know that," said his master sharply. "Go and tell him we are
waiting dinner."

The butler, as he turned, looked as if he would like to give notice to
leave on the spot, but he said nothing, and left the room.

"It is a gross want of courtesy!" muttered The Mackhai angrily. "Am I
to be kept waiting by the son of a miserable pettifogging scoundrel of a
London lawyer? The beginning of the end, Ken, I suppose!" he added
bitterly.

"I don't know what you mean, father."

"Wait. You'll know quite soon enough, my boy. Too soon, I'm afraid,
and then--"

The door was thrown open by the butler with a flourish, and he stood
back holding it wide for Max to enter, looking very thin and scraggy, in
a glossy new evening suit, with tight patent leather boots, handkerchief
in one hand, new white gloves in the other.

The Mackhai's brow contracted, and Kenneth gave his left leg a kick with
his right heel, so as to stop an inclination to laugh.

"I--I have--I have not kept you waiting?" faltered Max.

"Not very long," said The Mackhai coldly; "but we always sit down to
meals directly the gong has sounded."

The butler left the room.

"I am very sorry," faltered Max; "but I got so wet for the second time
to-day, that I thought I had better have a warm bath."

"Indeed!" said The Mackhai coldly. "Oh my, what a molly!" muttered
Kenneth. "My father told me to be careful," continued Max.

"Pray follow out your father's advice," said The Mackhai, "and consider
that you are quite at home here."

"How jolly sarcastic father is!" thought Kenneth.

"Thank you," said Max politely.

"While this place is mine, I wish my guests to be quite at their ease,"
continued The Mackhai; "but you will excuse me for saying that we never
dress for dinner."

"No, I thought not," said Max confusedly; "but I made myself so wet, and
my other suits were in the small portmanteau, and I've lost the key."

That dinner was hot, but very cold, and Max felt exceedingly glad when
it was over. His host tried to be polite, and asked questions about the
salmon-catching, but Max spoke in a hesitating way, and as if he thought
he was being laughed at, and it was with a feeling of intense relief
that he ceased to hear his host's voice, and escaped from the stony gaze
of the butler, who, under an aspect of the